How far is Watertown, SD from Belle Fourche, SD?

The driving distance from Watertown, SD to Belle Fourche, SD is about 391 miles (629.3 km), with a travel time of about 06h 47m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 330.6 miles (532.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 34m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
391.05 mi
06h 47m
Flight
330.66 mi
532.15 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Watertown.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
330.66 mi
Kilometers
532.15 km
Flight Time
00h 39m

Driving Distance

Road route
391.05 mi
Kilometers
629.34 km
Drive Time
06h 47m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 06h 47m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Belle Fourche
Thu, Apr 23, 12:26 AM MDT
Return by in Watertown
Thu, Apr 23, 8:13 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Watertown
2026-04-22T18:39
Arrive Belle Fourche
Thu, Apr 23, 1:26 AM CDT
Route Timing
06h 47m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
11:47 AM to 1:17 PM MDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
10:26 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Watertown
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Kennebec
SD

City in and county seat of Lyman County, South Dakota, United States

From Watertown
228.7 mi
03h 23m
To Belle Fourche
162.4 mi
03h 23m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
85°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
13 to 24 mph S
Destination
82°F
Wednesday

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM MDT
Wind
9 to 21 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Watertown and Belle Fourche.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Watertown and Belle Fourche.

  1. 1

    Start on South Broadway

    1.1 km · 2 min · South Broadway

  2. 2

    Turn right onto 9th Avenue Southwest

    6.4 mi · 9 min · 9th Avenue Southwest

  3. 3

    Continue on US Highway 212

    10.6 mi · 12 min · US Highway 212

  4. 4

    Continue on 4th Street

    1 mi · 2 min · 4th Street

  5. 5

    Continue on US Highway 212

    3.9 mi · 6 min · US Highway 212

  6. 6

    Turn left onto SD Highway 25

    60 mi · 1 hr 11 min · SD Highway 25

  7. 7

    Turn right onto SD Highway 34

    6 mi · 7 min · SD Highway 34

  8. 8

    Turn left onto SD Highway 25

    23.6 mi · 27 min · SD Highway 25

  9. 9

    Take the ramp right

    1803 ft · 44 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    326.1 mi · 5 hr 10 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward SD 34 West: Whitewood, Belle Fourche

    1463 ft · 38 sec

  12. 12

    Turn right onto SD Highway 34

    17.4 mi · 21 min · SD Highway 34

  13. 13

    Turn right onto 5th Avenue

    1.7 mi · 4 min · 5th Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn right onto State Street

    117 m · 15 sec · State Street

  15. 15

    Turn right onto 6th Avenue

    8 m · 1 sec · 6th Avenue

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 6th Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Watertown and Belle Fourche.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
16 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
4.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
SD Highway 25
410 mi · 105%
SD Highway 34
23.4 mi · 6%
US Highway 212
14.5 mi · 4%
9th Avenue Southwest
6.41 mi · 2%
5th Avenue
1.66 mi
4th Street
1.02 mi
Longest Stretch

SD Highway 25

Merge slight left

326 mi · 05h 10m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 47m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
13h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+60.4 mi
330.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Kennebec
03h 23m from Watertown
Leave By
10:26 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Watertown and Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Belle Fourche.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Watertown to Belle Fourche?

The road trip is about 391 miles (629.3 km) and usually takes 06h 47m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Kennebec is a useful midpoint, sitting about 228.7 miles from Watertown and 162.4 miles from Belle Fourche.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 330.6 miles (532.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 60.4 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $52.04 one way or $104.08 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 122.6 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Watertown and Belle Fourche, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Watertown and Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Belle Fourche.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Watertown and Belle Fourche. Straight-line distance: 330.66 mi (532.15 km).

Watertown

#1 Watertown

City in and county seat of Codington County, South Dakota, United States

Population22,303
Coordinates44.8994100, -97.1150700
Altitude528
CountryUnited States
Belle Fourche

#2 Belle Fourche

City in and county seat of Butte County, South Dakota, United States

Population5,742
Coordinates44.6713700, -103.8521500
Altitude921
CountryUnited States
Start: South Broadway (-97.115008, 44.899398)
End: 6th Avenue (-103.852143, 44.67137)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 629 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)13h 01m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)09h 46m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 49m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)06h 31m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 35m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 52m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
13.8 gal
52.24 L · about $52.04
Round trip
$104.08
27.6 gal · 104.48 L
Estimated CO2
122.6 kg one way
Round trip: 245.3 kg / 541 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $52.04 $104.08
Mid-grade $4.25 $58.69 $117.38
Premium $4.65 $64.23 $128.45
Diesel $5.30 $73.20 $146.39

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in South Dakota · Apr 22, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Watertown, SD and Belle Fourche, SD. The current time in Watertown is 18:39:29, although it is 17:39:29 in Belle Fourche.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.